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U.S. EPA fines Culver City company $4,400 for pesticide violation

SAN FRANCISCO The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined Jason Natural Products, Inc. $4,400 for allegedly selling and distributing a sunscreen that makes insect repellent claims without proper registration, which is a violation of federal pesticide law.

The EPA cited the company for selling in stores SunBrellas Block SPF 30 - a sunscreen that makes insect repellent claims against mosquitos, deer ticks and fleas - without first registering the product with the EPA.

"Companies must register their pesticides with the EPA," said Enrique Manzanilla, Director of the Cross Media Division of EPA's Pacific Southwest Regional Office. "Without EPA registration, we have no information on the effects of this product, which could result in harm to public health and the environment."

Federal law requires that before selling or distributing a pesticide in the United States, companies must register the pesticide with the EPA. Before registering a new pesticide or new use for a registered pesticide, the EPA must first ensure that the pesticide, when used according to label directions, can be used with a reasonable certainty of no harm to human health and without posing unreasonable risks to the environment. The agency also ensures that pesticide labels provide consumers with the information they need to use the products safely.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act allows for penalties of up to $6,500 per violation.